England captain Harry Kane has expressed his frustration after eight players were withdrawn from international duty through injury.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have all been made unavailable for this week’s UEFA Nations League games against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
Speaking to ITV Sport on Wednesday, Kane said: “It’s a shame this week. It’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.”
“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest,” he added. “England comes before any club situation.”
The spate of withdrawals means Lee Carsley, who replaced former manager Gareth Southgate on an interim basis in August, has been forced into five late changes to his squad ahead of his final games in charge.
🏴 ‘It’s been taken advantage of, I don’t like it!’
💬 Harry Kane ahead of England’s Nations League clash with Greece tomorrow
🗣️ @GabrielClarke05 pic.twitter.com/weboym5qrG
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 13, 2024
Kane continued: “I think England comes before anything. England comes before club. England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth (Southgate) was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.”
The 31-year-old striker is England’s all-time leading goalscorer and has led his country as captain at the last four major tournaments.
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers received his first call-up as one of the five new additions.
West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford have also been added to Carsley’s final squad before incoming manager Thomas Tuchel officially takes the reins on January 1, 2025.
(Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
